Quality Education Fund Thematic Network – Gifted Education Singapore Educational Tour 2007
Dec 14, 2015
Quality Education Fund ThematicNetwork – Gifted Education
ItineraryDay 1 – visited some famous places in
SingaporeDay 2 – visited National Institute of
Education (NIE)Day 3 – visited Anglo-Chinese School
– Ministry of Education (MOE) – Shuqun Primary School
Day 4 – Back to Hong Kong
The GEP in SingaporeThe GEP in existence since 1984Centrally administrated by the GE Branch,
Ministry of EducationToday: 9 primary centres
• Primary 4-6Up to 2004: 7 secondary centres
• Secondary 1-4Since 2005, secondary GE decentralized into
school-based Integrated Programmes (IP)• 6 year programmes
Selection of Teachers for gifted education
Good Academic qualificationsGood teaching recordInterviewLesson observation
Training of Teachers
On-the-job trainingFrequent consultations with GE Branch
officersNew teachers:
- Foundation Course in Gifted Education- Affective Education for the Gifted- Curriculum Differentiation for the Gifted
Local/overseas workshops and conferences
Providing for the highly able
Who are the high-ability pupils?• Identified by GE Branch• Based on standardized test scores
Providing for the highly able
Who are the high-ability pupils?• Identified by schools (e.g. teacher observation) • Use of characteristics checklists to help teachers nominate pupils
http://intranet.moe.gov.sg/gifted/documents/Char%20Checklists.pdf
Providing for the highly able
Existing programmes for the high-ability pupils• Special programmes (e.g. Innovative problem-soling programme, Creative Arts Programme)Initiatives by schools and clusters • School-based enrichment programmes • Cluster-based enrichment programmes • Leveraging on teacher expertise in GEP centres
Training programmes for teachers of the gifted and High Ability Learners
GEP teachers are trained-on-the-job3 compulsory (30 hour) courses • The Foundation Course in Gifted Education • Curriculum Differentiation (2nd Year) • Affective Education2 years of developmental supervision, mentored by Specialist Officers in different subjectsCurriculum Differentiation Practicum (3rd Year)
NIE: In-Service Courses
Certificate in Teaching Pupils with High Ability (CeTPHA)Advanced Diploma in Teaching Pupils with High AbilityMaster in Education with specialization in Gifted Education
CeTPHA- Why a Practicum?
To bridge theory into practice for teachersTo support and “handhold” the teacher for a short period to build their confidence in practising differentiated instruction – the supervisor acts as a coachTo encourage the use of tools and strategies learnt in 3 other modulesTo help key personnel in schools implement sound enrichment programmes for talent development
Gifted Education Programme
Started in 1984Seeks to meet the intellectual needs of the gifted through the provision of an enriched curriculum within a stimulating & interactive environmentGifted Education Branch - a unit within MOE to oversee the identification & selection of pupils; GE programming & curriculum planning; research and evaluation
Enriched Subjects English Mathematics Science Mother Tongue Social studies Civic and Moral Education/ Pastoral Care/ Community Involvement Programme Art and Craft, Music, Physical Education
Identification
2-stage Screening & Selection process • Screening – all P3 pupils • ENGLISH • MATHEMATICS • Selection tests – about 5% of cohort • ENGLISH • MATHEMATICS • GENERAL ABILITY
Extensions
Curriculum based enrichment activities- seminars, camps, courses Competitions Special provisions Mentorship Programmes
Mentorship Programmes
Science Mentorship Programmes Innovation Programme Creative Arts Programme Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme Leadership Development Programme Moot Parliament Programme Computer Mentorship Programme
Resources
At the school Smaller classes, additional planning
time for teachersBuilding capacity External consultants Overseas training – scholarship for
postgraduate studies, summer institutes and visits to gifted programmes in other countries